John Winters, the career counselor for the Pomo Youth College and Career Success project describes the activities that will be offered at the tutoring center. Chris Pugh-Ukiah Daily Journal.

The Academic Success and College Prep Resource Center aimed at helping K-12 Native American students had its grand opening on Friday, bringing together school district officials, tutors, organizers and representatives from the Pinoleville Pomo Nation.

The Academic Success Center, located at 307 North State Street, focuses on helping Native American students in Ukiah Unified School District get college and career counseling advice and academic tutoring needed to get them on the path to college. The center, which had its soft opening in December, augments the education the students receive in school and at the learning centers at the tribal sites.

Representatives from the Pinoleville Pomo Nation opened with a prayer and song for the dedication. Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent Deb Kubin also came by to offer her congratulations and to stress how vital extra help in education is.

Lenora Steele, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation Self-Governance Director, said that education centers like these are important for Native students to thrive. She believes that the center will be a tremendous success with the partnership they have built with the school district and administration.

“We are just so thankful that we are able to open places like this for our Native students and give them that little extra help academically,” Steele said.

A grant from the Department of Education that runs through Sept. 2020 funds the center. John Winters, the career counselor for the Pomo Youth College and Career Success project, says they want to help local Native American students set career and college goals that are going to help them and their tribes in the long term, such as figuring out the technical aspects of preparing for college and finding occupations. The center has activities set up for art, science and math subjects, including STEM and computer programing. Winters views the center as working to address any gaps that are appearing in a child’s education development, such as geometry or physics.

Angela James, Vice Chair for Pinoleville Pomo Nation, said at the ceremony that she is excited about the program and the progress it will bring for Native students. She says that the combination of the Head Start Program and the introduction of counselors who talk about college readiness have helped bring positive change for Native students.

The center also received help from the school district and administration. As part of the grant, two Title VI counselors and a cultural liaison were hired to help refer students to the center. Most tutoring lessons are scheduled for the afternoon, and students can come in twice a week for tutoring. They currently have a dozen students and are hoping to have 50 active students by the end of the year. One of the challenges they face is finding reliable drivers to pick students up from school and drop off.